Radio Producers
Overview
Introduction
Radio producers plan, rehearse, and produce live or recorded programs. They work with the music, on-air personalities, sound effects, and technology to put together an entire radio show. They schedule interviews and arrange for promotional events.
According to the Federal Communications Commission, there were 15,473 radio stations in the United States as of June 30, 2020. Larger stations employ radio producers, while smaller stations may combine those duties with those of the program director or disc jockey. While most radio ...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, median annual earnings for radio and television producers and directors were $78,910 in May 2019. The lowest paid 10 percent of all producers and directors in all entertainment fields make less than $35,480 a year, and the highest paid 25 percent make more than $173,680. Like many radio jobs, there is a wide salary range resulting from differences in m...
Work Environment
Radio producers generally work indoors in a busy environment, although some location and outdoor work might be required. The atmosphere at a radio station is generally very pleasant; however, smaller stations may not be modern, with much of the investment going into high-tech equipment for the broadcasts.
Full-time radio producers usually work more than 40 hours per week planning, schedu...
Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor predicts average employment growth for all producers (radio and television) through 2028. However, job growth in the radio industry, specifically, has been curtailed by several factors in recent years. In the past, radio station ownership was highly regulated by the government, limiting the number of stations a person or company could own. Recent deregulation has ma...